Agricultural sectors in Bolivia and Colombia face shifts in employment and data tracking

Agricultural sectors in Bolivia and Colombia are undergoing significant shifts in employment and data collection. In Bolivia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) reported that informal employment in the agricultural sector stands at 48.9%, while formal employment reached 51.1% for the first time in the analyzed period. The report notes that 72% of agricultural workers live in rural areas, with women making up 13.6% of positions and youth aged 15 to 34 representing 31.5%. Additionally, agricultural production saw a 1.5% decline in 2025, attributed to adverse weather and exchange rate fluctuations.

In Colombia, the Ministry of Agriculture and DANE have agreed to conduct a new National Agricultural Census, with results expected in 2028. This marks the first such census since 2014. The new initiative aims to update data on productive and social conditions in rural areas to improve public policy. Previous data from 2014 highlighted significant gaps, including 89% of surveyed individuals lacking access to the financial system and 83% lacking machinery for production.